Mental health research is not just administering rating scales

Abstract

This editorial is the outcome of my clinical, academic and research experience. With due respect to all stake holders, I wish to point out that mental health research has neglected this important aspect; namely, unqualified and untrained people administering and interpreting various rating scales and other assessment instruments. In this paper, I discuss why this issue is so important, and suggest what authorities, especially journal editors could do.

Keywords

• mental health research; rating scales; assessment instruments; measurements; outcome measures